The Shepherd's Studio by DianeWhimsical Art Inspired by A Life Well Lived!

I've hesitated writing this post because many of you aren't ready for this message...however, many of you are.

John 4:35-36"I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields!They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages,even now he harvests the crop for eternal life,so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together."

Recently Holy Spirit has opened my eyes to see the evils that are surrounding our nation and the truth surrounding us as believers in Jesus Christ. Evils that I'd rather not of known about. Evils that I could of died in "peace" not knowing about. Evils that will bring this nation to destruction. This is a spiritual war we live in. Make sure you put on your armor daily!

Helmet of Salvation

Breastplate of Righteousness

Belt of TRUTH

Shoes of the Gospel of Peace

Shield of The Spirit

Sword of Faith...The Word

If you aren't ready for this revelation, then read no further...trust in the Lord...pray for discernment...BUT STOP HERE.​​Habakkuk 2:3 "For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay."

"Though a thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked." Psalm 91:7-8

If I could drive home anything it would be....don't fear.

It may appear that all hell is breaking loose and frankly it is. The top will soon be blown off. The dominos will fall.

I have seen evidence of the sheer evils that rule this land. The satanic worship that is taking place in high places. The human sacrifice of our children on the altars of satan. (think human trafficking, abortion...do your homework...do your own research...don't just believe me....dig for yourself...it will make you sick.)

"A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly." Proverbs 15:14

"Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." Jesus~ Matthew 3:20-21

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. Matthew 4:23-24

"The Lord detests the way of the wicked but he loves those who pursue righteousness. " Proverbs 159

I've recently come to see a revelation that America is The Great Babylon in prophecy. I've questioned it with notes in my Bible in the past, but not had a clear revelation. I'm learning again to trust when Holy Spirit speaks to me.

​Revelations 18 speaks of the fall of Babylon. Read it for yourself. ​"Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes." Rev 18:4-5

Study Matthew 25 and The Parable of the Ten Virgins. Don't wait to get ready. Get ready now...stay ready.

verse 13 ​"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know that day or the hour."

Ironically, President Trump has signed a proclamation making September National Preparedness Month. ...get ready...stay ready. Whatever you do...do not fear....do not panic...stay ready and pray.

It's so much easier to write anonymously...but I'm known personally by many of you.

You know most if not all my flaws, my blemishes, my sins.

If there is one thing most of you know...I'm unashamed...I'm bold...and I'm fearless...to the point at times of being controversial, in your face or opinionated. (silent laughter...inside family joke!)

What you don't know, is what it took to form this heart in me.

It took years in the desert. Years of being voiceless. Years of fear.

Fear is a Liar!

I sit here in the quiet of this morning...alone. The Hired Hand has run an errand...and I can blare my worship music...and listen as God speaks to my heart. I can sit here and let The Holy Spirit have his way with my fingers.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High (El Elyon)will rest in the shadow of the Almight. (El Shaddai)I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

If you make the Most Hight (El Elyon) your dwelling-even the Lord who is my refuge-then NO harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.

"Because He loves me", says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.​With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation."Psalm 91...bits and pieces

Have you ever felt like you are dwelling in "the valley of dry bones"? As I'm writing this...I'm reminded what God told his man of old...Speak to those dry bones! Tell them to come alive!!! Be bold. Speak truth.

I believe as we proclaim truth, the liar must flea.

When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father,the SPIRIT OF TRUTH who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. John 15:26-27

"My sheep listen to my voice;I know them and they follow me.​John 10:27

It was truly an honor to be a Shepherdess. God taught me so much about His heart toward His sheep...towards me.

"He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."​John 8:47

Friends...I do believe our time is short. I believe the church of Christ will be snatched up like a thief in the night. He's coming to remove us from this world. It's time to get your hearts ready..."Stay ready so you don't have to get ready." Chuck Swindoll

The Lord has been showing me things...things that are not for the weak of heart...things that will cause despair, fear and turmoil. Don't wait. Get your heart ready....NOW.

John 8:42-44"Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here.I have not come on my own; but he sent me.Why is my language not clear to you?Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him."

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."John 8:12"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."John 8:32

Own Your Life:Deep IntentionBold FaithGenerous Love

II Chronicles 15:15b"They sought God EAGERLY, and he was found by them.​So the Lord gave them rest on every side."

Have you ever wanted something so badly that it brought you to tears? And I don't mean something material....I mean, a relationship repaired, a loved one saved, a sick one healed.

In Sunday School we've been studying the power of a prayerful life. I can honestly say that for the last 20 years of my life, I've lived a prayerful life. I wish I could say that for the past 46 years of walking as a Jesus follower that I sought after Him with a prayerful life, but I did not. I'm not even sure I knew how.

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14

Every New Year I begin with a word or a phrase that I have been especially prayerful over. One that would shape my life in this New Year. A word that defines my life.

This was my 2016 Vision Board. 2016 was a TOUGH year!!! But EVERY step was bathed in prayer. Bob and I didn't take one step that we hadn't prayed over.....we didn't want a life of regrets we wanted God's best. Oh, there were tears and some passionate feelings involved....hey what can I say, I'm a Strong Hearted Woman!

Looking at that Vision Board brings tears to my eyes....not one thing on it didn't come to pass. It hangs in our closet to remind me of God's faithfulness to us when we choose Him and His will above our own.

This years 2018 board has been made very clear to me by God. I'm still gathering words and pictures from magazines....and my daughter smacks her head over my stacks of magazines. LOL!

We've lived in Texas for 1 year now. We've adjusted well to retirement and being together 24/7/365...in fact, we love being together. We like one another's company....I'd choose to spend time with Bob over anyone else, hands down....well, except for maybe the 2 little guys in the photos. My heart explodes when I see them. No one could EVER of prepared me for being a Nana!

I'm starting to see it....I'm starting to understand my calling in "retirement". For 46 years of walking with Jesus I have had a heart for the poor. It could be that He made that a part of me because my family went through some very very very difficult financial and personal times when I was in High School. But my heart aches for the poor and the homeless, the sick and the dying. I know what it is to live in poverty. I know what it is to have parents addicted to alcohol. I know what rage and abuse look like from a front row seat. BUT I also know that God does restore the years lost to the locust!!!

Grapeland Texas has moved up from being the poorest county in Texas to being 8th!

I have no doubt that God uses all of our life experiences to form us and make us into His workmanship.

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

​I'm sure that's why I had a heart to go to India twice and love on all those little orphan boys...I'd go back in a heart beat, but I truly don't believe God is calling me there. God was preparing me for the works He had prepared in advance for ME to do....right here in Grapeland Texas. Of course you'll never see my name in the papers or the headline news...God forbid that. I just want to make a difference, even if it's in the life of just in 1 child. I've started by volunteering once a week just listening to children at the Grapeland Elementary read.

Our Sunday School teacher is the President of the School Board and he told us that the Texas prison system determines how many prisons to build by whether a child can read by the 3rd grade. I about broke into tears...my heart broke...I failed 3rd grade...I was one of those statistics! I told him right then and there that when they started up the reading program, I'd be there! There isn't a Tuesday that goes by that I don't sit there with those kids and say in my mind...will it be you. And I vow to not let it be on my watch.

I walk a couple miles about 4 days a week and I listen to Audible books....that way I can get more done! You know, multi-tasking! Two miles and 1 or 2 chapters!

A few weeks ago I started a book I bought years ago....Own Your Life: Living with deep intention, bold faith, and generous love. Yep, that about sums it up! That sums up what my heart has been telling me.

My 2018 Vision Board will be Own Your Life or Intentionality...however that word has been way over used in the last few years...but it still applies. I have many things I'm praying about and all of them will go on the board. You'll see dining tables, you'll see children, you'll see art, you'll see gardens....God can and will use anything in our lives if we offer it to Him as a sweet sacrifice. Nothing is wasted with God. Nothing.

I am very excited to see how God chooses to use me in 2018 as I Own My Life!

​Psalm 119:103-1-5

How sweet are your words to my taste,sweeter than honey to my mouth!I gain understanding from your precepts;therefore I hate every wrong path.Your word is a lamp for my feet,a light on my path.

The video below was the most helpful video I've watched in the last few weeks. It totally explained SO many reasons why I feel the way I do and what the heck is wrong with my body.

The first alarming fact is....STRESS is cumulative!!! Holy Cow! Then why aren't we all smashed out on the floor...dead from it!!! It actually shows me how amazing a body God created; that it can handle a lot of stuff before it just cries....UNCLE!

One of the most troubling facts was the weakness in my legs...more specifically my thighs....although I must say that knowing, is half the battle. They feel like I'm 90 years old when I get up. Even though I've been doing squats for several months and I've seen NO improvement....this would explain why. They are atrophied.

I've also had very high plasma Ferritin for the past 2 years. My doc believed it was due to inflammation caused by the MCAD (Mast Cell Disorder) but I now believe it is caused by Adrenal Fatigue that's been plaguing me for a good 2 years at least that has caused the inflammation. I do remember when I started to get so very tired....after my last battle with anaphylactic shock and having to use the Epi-Pen....filled with epinephrine. Then the Paramedics usually pump me full of Beny and in the ER they pump me some more!. It's ugly!!! Really ugly!!! Then we lambed and that nearly killed me....really. Having the farm just became more of a heartache then it was fun. The work was more then 1 girl can handle on her own....especially when she is nearly 60!!! So last Fall, I sold my sheep (mostly gave them away) and let it all go....it was really a very sad time, but now that I look back, I knew I had to. I knew I was SO tired. The kind of tired sleep doesn't fix. We call it burned out....and literally it is...your adrenals are burned out.​Really. It's a no wonder.

For now, until I see the Bio-Identical Doctor in a few weeks....this is what I'm doing to keep my head above water as I tenderly love my adrenals back to life.....yes, I do believe that the adrenals can be recovered....I know many don't....but I am not of that mind set.

STRESS in our lives is only going to get worse before it gets better. Did you know, retirement and moving are right up there at the top of the STRESS chart with death and divorce! Yeah, soooooo I've got a ways to go before I can sit back on my porch in Texas and drink (unsweet) tea! Although, I'm tempted to find a quiet spot at the beach and soak up the sun after The Farmher's Daughter's wedding in less then 3 weeks! Ahhh!

My Routine To Heal Adrenal Fatigue

*NO Caffeine*NO Sugar*Eating a well balanced diet with healing fats, proteins and carbs and that means consuming enough calories to get my metabolism off the ground floor and working again....I think that will come with the adrenals...but what do I know...it's all over my pay grade!!!*Sleeping 7-8 hours every night*Using Supplements for Sleep; 5 HTP, Melatonin and Melatonin Blend with Gaba (others I can't think of cause...cognitive ability is impaired!)*Using Supplements for healing MY body which includes Adrenal Glandulars*Drinking an organic tea blend infusion (steeped at least 20 minutes) of Ashwagandha, Rhemania, Holy Basil and Licorise to heal the adrenals*Drinking Golden Milk using Synchro Gold Elixir, coconut milk and honey to help with inflammation*Using Essential Oils: Positive Energy™ & Sleep Tight™ by Anada Apothecary, my own blends during the day for calming, well being*Watch very little News....if I can't get it off the computer in 5 minutes then it's not worth the energy*Tapping​*Prayer & Meditating on Scriptures*RESTING*Love Myself

Did you know that God wants us to dream.....he wants to throw open the doors of heaven and bless the socks right off of us!

​He is The Great Dream Giver!!

"Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request."​I Chronicles 4:10

In The Prayer of Jabez.....God wanted to bust open the borders for Jabez! In fact the Hebrew meaning of Enlarge my Territory/Borders really means.....give me more sheep! (hahaha)

WARNING...THIS IS LONG!

I'm not very good at listening to directions. That's just the honest truth.

When our son was in Kindergarten, his standardized testing came back and said he had advanced "listening" skills....he followed directions very well....OH REALLY??? See, I was his teacher....and his Mum....and well, I knew better. But dang if he wasn't able to listen and follow directions on that test!!!

If I ever have any really important documents that require a signature, I get The Hired Hand to read them....cause apparently, I don't have very good reading skills either!!!!

Diane

Current ResumeI am now a retired FarmHer of the most amazing creatures God created; Sheep!!! I loved every day I was blessed with Shepherding them. I now am focusing on my art and gardening and allowing The Lord to use it for His Glory. I designed and we are building The Shepherd's Studio on our awesome property and have NO idea what God will do with it....but It's His to use however He chooses. I continue to be ever so excited about health issues, food and fun! In my ongoing endeavor to find health and healing. We are enjoying our retirement days together seeking The Father together for whatever He has for us here in East Texas. We remain broken and poured out vessels for His purposes. We love our quiet and peaceful life here in The Piney Woods of East Texas.